Up to 20 people will be chosen to tell what matters in their communities during workshops in both Port Angeles and Port Townsend later this month.
The North Olympic Peninsula workshops are part of a series that will help to build a series of community maps of important places on the Olympic Peninsula, said Kelly Biedenweg, with the Institute for Culture and Ecology, which is sponsoring the workshops along with the Pacific Northwest Research Station of the National Forest Service.
The Port Angeles workshop will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20.
The Port Townsend workshop will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21.
The locations will be provided to participants upon registration, Biedenweg said.
“We are seeking area residents with diverse perspectives,” she said.
Planners from federal and state land management agencies, as well as tribes, counties, cities and other public and nonprofit organizations will use the information, she added.
“Understanding more about the areas and resources Peninsula residents value and use can inform planning and decision-making,” Biedenweg said.
“Mapping will also allow residents to identify shared values and resource areas that are important to communities.”
Participants will “share ideas about places that are important for economic, recreational, spiritual or other reasons.
“These might include places that you visit with your family, hike or ride ATVs or use for logging, mining, hunting, fishing, collecting berries or other forest products,” Biedenweg said.
“They might also include places that you feel have historic importance, have scenic beauty or that you feel are important for your spiritual or emotional health.”
Each workshop is limited to 20 participants.
To join one of the workshops, e-mail Biedenweg at kellybiedenweg@ifcae.org or phone her at 206-883-5612.
